Thursday, February 10, 2011

Missouri Athletic Club Won't Comply with St. Louis Smoking Ban

A showdown is in the works between City Hall and one of St. Louis' most venerable private clubs.

St. Louis' interim health director Pamela Walker confirmed yesterday that the Missouri Athletic Club has received the city's first citation for violating the smoking ban that went into effect January 2.

The city's ban exempts private clubs that have no employees. However, the MAC -- which features a restaurant, bar, gymnasium, swimming pool and other amenities -- is not such a club. Last month the club was found to be in violation of the smoking ban and given 30 days to clean up its act. That time has passed, and still the club continues to allow its clients to smoke indoors.

"I'm hopeful that they'll see that's in the best interests of their
employee and their patrons and the health of the community to comply,"
Walker told St. Louis Public Radio yesterday.

The club has been fined $100. After two more citations, the city could shut the club down as a nuisance property.

"Nobody's above the law," Mayor Francis Slay told the Post-Dispatch yesterday in reference to the MAC. "Hopefully, we can convince them we're on the right side. If not, we'll have to take it further. This is about public health."

MAC's president Chris Lawhorn tells the daily that the club will handle the matter internally. The club's general manager, meanwhile, has said that its attorneys believe the MAC is exempted from the ban.